DACA students join net zero summit

Two pupils Darwen Aldridge Community Academy have been exploring ways to help engineers achieve net zero environmental impact.

The Year 8 and Year 9 pupils joined The Tomorrow’s Engineers Week Schools COP Summit along with more than 50 others from across the UK.

Students heard from inspirational engineers at the forefront of reducing the effects of climate change and then held discussions hosted by broadcaster Fayon Dixon and former BBC presenter Susan Bookbinder that mirrored those being held at the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow.

All attendees were given the opportunity to focus on areas of interest, such as protecting wildlife from the worst effects of climate change or motivating more young people to be more eco-conscious. They brainstormed ideas for how engineering can reduce the carbon footprint of the UK and how they can make an impact on reaching net zero themselves.

Lisa Morris, teacher of design and technology at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, said: "This has been such an amazing opportunity for our students to get involved with the prestigious COP26 Summit and have their voices heard.

"Many of our young people are passionate about climate change and want to make a difference – to know that they can be involved in initiatives such as this helps to open their eyes, promote passion, problem-solving, teamwork and creative thinking and could open up further opportunities for their futures. Ailsa and Abigail were great ambassadors for DACA and we are incredibly proud of their forward-thinking attitudes."

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